Conch Watering Ceremony ( พิธีรดน้ำสังข์)
After the marry couple has put merit, listen to the chanting
Buddhist mantra and donate the basic requisites to monks. Then it’s time to the auspicious occasion of
Conch Watering Ceremony. The monk head
will anoint the wedding couple to groom first in 3 dots at forehead. Due to
monks cannot touch women, so the groom will anoint the 3-dots to bride directly.
Then put the white holy thread which is made in 2 connected circles to the heads of wedding couple. The length of thread to link between 2 circle is about two cubits ( 1 cubit = 18-22 inches). The white holy threads in 2 connected circles is called Fadmongkol (แฝดมงคล) The ends of thread will link to the monk’s alms bowl which contain the holy water. And the thread tail will be sent to the first monk to the last monk by catching it in his hand. At the final monk, the thread will be put at a tray. In case the Conch Watering Ceremony is performed in the evening, there will be no thread link.
Couples have to sit in the arranged seats and the 2 hands are on the support pillows and the water bowl. The groomsman and bridesmaids stand behind the wedding couples to assist and encourage. The parents and senior relatives will water to the hands of wedding couples respectively.
About choosing a bridesmaid and groomsman, the belief that they should be single and are almost to get marry soon. The reason may be that the adults want to them to learn the wedding process so that they do not shy when it’s time of their own wedding.
Then put the white holy thread which is made in 2 connected circles to the heads of wedding couple. The length of thread to link between 2 circle is about two cubits ( 1 cubit = 18-22 inches). The white holy threads in 2 connected circles is called Fadmongkol (แฝดมงคล) The ends of thread will link to the monk’s alms bowl which contain the holy water. And the thread tail will be sent to the first monk to the last monk by catching it in his hand. At the final monk, the thread will be put at a tray. In case the Conch Watering Ceremony is performed in the evening, there will be no thread link.
Couples have to sit in the arranged seats and the 2 hands are on the support pillows and the water bowl. The groomsman and bridesmaids stand behind the wedding couples to assist and encourage. The parents and senior relatives will water to the hands of wedding couples respectively.
About choosing a bridesmaid and groomsman, the belief that they should be single and are almost to get marry soon. The reason may be that the adults want to them to learn the wedding process so that they do not shy when it’s time of their own wedding.
The steps in the Conch Watering Ceremony. (ขั้นตอนการรดน้ำสังข์)
The couples wear the holy white threads or Fadmongkol (แฝดมงคล), press hands on the support pillows, and sit together in pairs. There will be a staff to dip in the holy water added to the conch shell and send to those who wish to water, starting from the parents of the couple, seniors relatives, seniors people, and other quests respectively. Generally watering to the pressed hands of bride first, then groom later. While watering, they will say of blessing to couples to experiencing happiness, long lasting family life, full house with kids, and rich. Also while watering, the monks pray the growth mantra or Chayanto (ชยันโต) for good luck to the wedding couple. In the present, the Conch Watering ceremony is sometimes performed in the evening before the night wedding party, usually held at a hotel or auditorium. If it is to pray by monks whilst watering, this need to invite monks to the party place.
In ancient times, there is no the Conch Watering Ceremony. Instead, the monk will splash the holy water from the monk’s alms-bowl to the wedding couple.